Make a Planet by Adding Atmosphere, Water, and Clouds

Activity Guide

Instructions:

  • Type the into the URL.
  • Click the “Make a Planet” icon.
  • Ignore the instructions on the screen (you have a chance at that later).
  • Complete the following procedure to complete the mission.

Mission Objective:

Make a planet with the ideal mixture of atmosphere, water, and clouds to insulate the planet to maintain a surface temperature of about 15⁰C.

Planet Simulator Instructions:

  1. Locate the big brown circle - this is a planet without water and air.
  2. Locate the red column (on right) with the icons labeled Water, Atmosphere, and Clouds.
  3. Locate the Planet surface temperature gauge in the bottom left of the screen – This will change as the atmosphere is developed (remember to use the Celsius scale (⁰C)).
  4. The temperature starts at -18.3⁰C (that is negative 18.3⁰C).
  5. Ignore the million years timer for now.
  6. Click on the Water icon – The water icon now appears to the left and water appears on the planet. Notice the surface temperature has changed.
  7. Click on the Water icon on the left – This removes water and the temperature changes back.

Procedure:

  1. Record the Surface temperature without water or air on the data table.
  2. Click the water icon and count the number of clicks to reach as close to 15⁰C without going over.
  3. Record the number of clicks on the data table and enter observations.
  4. Remove all the water from the planet by clicking the icons on the left.
  5. Click the Atmosphere icon and count the number of click to reach as close to 15⁰C without going over.
  6. Record the number of clicks on the data table and enter observations.
  7. Remove atmospheres until there are 4 atmospheres left on the planet and add 5 Water icons. Record the temperature with 5 water and 4 atmosphere icons.
  8. Add three clouds.
  9. Record the temperature and enter observations.

Data Table:

Initial Temperature
Number of Waters Clicks
Observations of temperature as water is added
Number of Atmosphere Clicks
Observations of temperature as Atmosphere is added
Temperature at 5 Water & 4 Atmosphere No clouds
Temperature at 5 Water & 4 Atmosphere 3 clouds
Observation of temperatures with clouds

Questions:

  1. Why do you think the surface temperature planet is so cold without water and air?
  2. What can you infer about air and water and its effect on a planet’s temperature?
  3. What affect did clouds have on the temperature? Infer why this happened.
  4. Based on this information, what do you think the atmosphere does to protect life on Earth?

©Copyright 2014-all rights reserved